What’s on in Norfolk 2017
March
26 March – 28 October – East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens – Wednesday – Sunday 13:30 – 17:00
April
1 – 17 April – Easter Eggstravaganza – Pensthorpe Natural Park - The Easter holidays wouldn't be complete without an egg hunt, so hop on over to us this April and get your searching skills ready!
4 April – Norfolk Spring Fling – Norfolk Showground - An exciting and educational day for children aged 4 - 11 years. Come along to learn more about Food, Farming and the Countryside.
14-17 April - Easter Fun at Houghton - Four days packed full of ‘egg-citing’ things to do over Easter. The ‘egg-cellent’ events and activities will be great fun for all the family and Holkham Hall will be open each day.
14 – 17 April Blickling Hall- Aylsham – Cadburys Easter Egg Hunt - The Easter bunny has been up to his old tricks again! He has hidden clues around the garden to his secret stash of chocolate. Join us over the bank holiday weekend from 10am - 3pm for some Easter fun and a Cadbury chocolate treat.
14-17 April – Bure Valley Railway – Easter Eggspress - Hop on board the Easter Eggspress over the Easter bank holiday weekend, for an “eggciting” day out for all the family. There is a FREE Easter Egg for each child when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (maximum 2 children per adult). In addition, a colouring corner and a decorated Whistlestop Café add to the Easter themed event
21-23 April – North Norfolk Railway - Spring Steam Gala
21 & 22 April – North Walsham Live Aid Festival
29 April – 1 May North Norfolk Railway – Day out with Thomas - That well known cheeky engine will be paying a visit to the North Norfolk Railway once again in 2017! Why don't you come and join Thomas and other really useful engines for a day of family fun at our friendly railway? Thomas will be working hard whilst he's here, so be sure to come and show your appreciation for everyone's favourite engine!
May
12-28 May – Norfolk & Norwich festival - The oldest arts festival in the country and still one of the biggest. Hundreds of performances and events across the city
20 & 21 May – Cromer & Sheringham Crab & Lobster Festival - and lobster festival is a lively weekend celebration of two fine North Norfolk coastal towns, Cromer & Sheringham. Historically great rivals, but now joining together as two of Norfolk's premier seaside destinations to create a friendly and entertaining weekend event. The festival is dedicated to promoting local seafaring heritage and active fishing community. The small boats launch from the beach and brave the North sea in all weathers to bring home delicious crabs and lobsters for your delectation!
25-28 May – Houghton International Horse Trials - The Houghton International Horse Trials has it all; exhilarating sporting action, a spectacular setting, entertainment for young and old, plus shopping at over 70 trade stands. Set in the magnificent grounds of Houghton Hall, Norfolk, this truly is one of the most outstanding venues within the sport of eventing
27 – 29 May Bure Valley Railway – Everything goes Weekend - All available locomotives, coaches and rolling stock will be in action this weekend with a special intensive timetable in operation. Fares allow unlimited travel on day of issue to enable visitors to travel behind as many engines as possible. To keep younger visitors entertained there will a competition on the train journey, with a prize for every correct entry. The workshop at Aylsham will be open throughout the weekend and staff will be on hand to answer any questions.
28 May – North Norfolk Railway – Dad’s Army Live
29 May – onwards – Hemsby Beach Fireworks - Join the fun at Hemsby beach for a fantastic free aerial firework display on Tuesday nights during the school summer holidays and on Whitsun Sunday
June
23 June – 24 September – Cromer – Cromer Pier Summer Show
28 & 29 June – Royal Norfolk Show – Norfolk Showground - Royal Norfolk Show is an annual agricultural show, and is held by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. It is the largest 2 day agricultural show in England. It’s the time to see Norfolk at its best, to network, to do business, to learn about Norfolk’s wonderful landscape and the importance of Food, farming and the Countryside. The celebration of agriculture past, present and future is at the heart of the Show and representation from all walks of county life combine to celebrate all that is great about Norfolk.
July
14 – 16 July North Norfolk Railway Beer Festival
19 July – onwards – Great Yarmouth Central Beach Fireworks - Every Wednesday evening for six weeks the skies over Great Yarmouth are illuminated with our fantastic summer firework spectacular.
22 - 24 July – Holkham Country Fair – Holkham Hall - Enjoy two days of countryside pursuits, rural crafts, displays, performances and great fun for all the family at this hugely popular event. Around the showground there's fishing, gundogs, clay pigeon shooting, a vintage fairground, military displays, dog agility, vintage cars and machinery, archery and more.
29 & 30 July – Worstead Festival – One of Norfolk largest 2 day village festivals. The Worstead festival helps celebrate rural life…from archery demonstrations and Heavy horses to top local chefs showcasing their talents, there really is something for all the family!
29 & 30 July – Gorleston on Sea Clifftop Festival - Over the two day event, you can expect a huge variety of entertainment, stalls, fun fair, music, sports and much much more! Enjoy the firework finale on the Sunday evening.
28 July – 8 October – Nelson & Norfolk This major exhibition gathers some of the most extraordinary and potent objects connected to Admiral Lord Nelson, reflecting his naval victories, his relationships and above all his affection for his native county of Norfolk.
31 July – 6 August – Southrepps Classical Music Festival - The extraordinary community of the village of Southrepps has played from the start a vital role in the festival, as long-standing music-lovers and initiates to classical music alike involved themselves in the production of what has rapidly become a much-loved and keenly anticipated fixture in the region's calendar.
August
11 August – Classic Ibiza at Blickling - The summer's coolest classical dance party from GoldieRocks and the Urban Soul Orchestra with music including Massive Attacks' Teardrops, Groove Armada's At The River, William Orbit's Barber's Adagio for Strings and many club anthems.
12 August – Great British Proms at Blickling - The National Symphony Orchestra will be performing iconic, rousing music including the National Anthem, The Dambusters March, I Vow to Thee My Country, Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and... The Archers theme tune!
12 – 18 August - Cromer Carnival Week
27 & 28 August – Village at War – Glitz & Blitz at Gressenhall - The annual Village at War event promises to deliver an impressive display of home front history. Stroll around military and civilian vehicles and meet costumed characters from both the British and American forces.
September
9 - 10 September – Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival - Taking place on South Quay, a mix of traditional and modern maritime vessels will be moored for visitors to admire and go aboard. The Festival is a riot of colour and maritime shanty folk music, with a large main stage featuring a variety of performances and two other entertainment areas, all with bars.
15 – 16 September Blickling Hall Aylsham – Summer Nights Film Festival – The Summer Nights Film Festival will be back on 15 - 16 September, with some real classics. So get the date in the diary and prepare for a night of fun under the stars.
15 - 17 September Great Yarmouth Out There Festival - An action-packed weekend, bursting with circus and street entertainment, Out There has everything from daring acrobatics and daft comedy to dancing, juggling, theatre, circus, storytelling, music and more! It’s mostly free and is a fun and different way to experience Great Yarmouth with your family and friends.
16 – 17 September – North Norfolk Railway & Sheringham’s – 1940’s Weekend
October
21 – 29 October – Bure Valley Railway Spooky Express - All aboard the Spooky Express this October Half Term. A children’s quiz to see how many spooky items can be spotted on the train journey, a colouring corner and a decorated Whilstlestop Café add to this themed event. Also, the Railway’s resident Bear will be dressed up for the occasion to welcome each train at Aylsham Station. To make this truly a children’s event, we are giving free travel to every child when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (maximum 2 children per adult).
27 October – 7 January 2018 Rembrandt: Lightening the Darkness at Norwich Castle - The exhibition will focus on aspects of Rembrandt's uses of light and shade. Perhaps the most revered artist of the European tradition, Rembrandt was a supreme communicator and this exhibition will highlight the extraordinary collection of 93 etchings by him held by the castle, combined with a select group of related oil paintings and drawings on loan
November
8 November – 23 December Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2017- Our Christmas Spectacular is the largest Christmas show in the country! Set in the magical surroundings of mechanical organs and fairground carousels, with a cast of 130 professional singers, dancers and musicians – many of whom are West End performers. The 3 hour performance delivers an extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year-round favourites, with famous and much-loved chart toppers being sung alongside traditional carols.
25 November – 30 December – Cromer – Cromer Pier Christmas Show -
December
2 December – 24 December North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham – A magical Santa Special services run on various dates and times in the weeks before Christmas. They depart from Sheringham station and take passengers through some of Norfolk's most beautiful winter scenery whilst the adults are served sherry and mince pies, children receive a chocolate and a soft drink.Santa is waiting by his open fire at Weybourne Station (specially transformed into Santaland!), ready to give all children a warm welcome, both young and old. Each infant (under 1 year) and child (1 year to 14 years) will receive an appropriate present for their age. After a period of time looking around the station, passengers reboard the train for their journey back to Sheringham. With professional entertainers, quality presents and of course a ride behind a steam train.
December 2017 – Bure Valley Railway – Steam Trains to Santa - The Santa Train departs from Wroxham travelling to Santa's Grotto, where Santa and his railway sleigh are there to welcome you all. Visiting Santa - Roll up to Santa’s Grotto, with the station dressed beautifully in twinkling lights to get everybody into the festive spirit. Then, the moment everybody has been waiting all year for! A visit to Santa in his Grotto! Let him know what you're hoping for on Christmas Morning and receive a personalised early Christmas present from Santa himself.